Jan Evangelista Purkyně

Jan Evangelista Purkyně
Purkyně in 1856
Born17 or 18 December 1787
Libochovice, Bohemia, Austrian Monarchy
Died28 July 1869(1869-07-28) (aged 81)
Prague, Austria-Hungary
NationalityCzech
Alma materUniversity of Prague
Known forPurkinje cells
Purkinje effect
Purkinje images
Purkinje fibres
ChildrenEmanuel, Karel, and 2 daughters
Scientific career
FieldsAnatomy, physiology
InstitutionsUniversity of Breslau

Jan Evangelista Purkyně (Czech: [ˈjan ˈɛvaŋɡɛˌlɪsta ˈpurkɪɲɛ] ; also written Johann Evangelist Purkinje) (17 or 18 December 1787 – 28 July 1869) was a Czech anatomist and physiologist. In 1839, he coined the term "protoplasma" for the fluid substance of a cell. He was one of the best known scientists of his time. Such was his fame that when people from outside Europe wrote letters to him, all that they needed to put as the address was "Purkyně, Europe".